Incubator



April 7, 1931- W. F. HILLPo-r INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 7. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l By W April 7, 1931. w. F. HILLPOT 1,799,514

.INCUBTOR Filed Sept. '7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 vals, in simulation of i screening Patented Apr. 7, 1931 WILLIAM ErNNEYKHILLPoT, .0E EEENCHTOWN, NEW JERSEY INcUEA'roE l Application led September 7, 1929. Serial No. 391,030.

It is theobj ect of my invention to provide means for supporting eggs, during the period of incubation thereof, in such manner that the eggs may be repeatedly turned, at'interthe turning movements naturally imparted to such eggs by the mother birds, and in such environment as to afford the desired degree of warmth during such period, while maintaining the eggs in such relation to each other that they may be `individually vinspected at any time; and means for contemporaneously shifting a plurality of egg trays, in vertical tiers, from a region of charge, in Vwhich the trays contain fresh eggs, to a region where the chicks are hatched therefrom and ready to be disy charged. Such apparatus may be advantageously employed to eect whichis known as stage incubation, in which eggs in various stages of incubation are contemporaneously present in the incubator, so that the latter may be used to hatch chicks every day,

instead of at intervals of the gestation period of twenty-one days, andwith the advantage that chicks thus produced are more -readily marketed.v

As hereinafter described; I find con-` venientto provide egg supporting means in- .,cluding, trays which are rectangular frames open at the top but covered at the bottom with foraminous material, such as insect wire each of said trays having, at opposite yendssthereof, axially alined. pivot Y means adapted to detachably engage com- ,l Vkplementary pivot meanswith respect to which o be tilted in either direction toy `the trays may i a degreefconveniently limited by the correlation of the pivot means respectively on the tray and engaged therewith ;V so that'each tray ,may rest st bly'in either position of inclination and accidental spilling ofthe contents of the tray is prevented.

' As hereinafter described; the pivot means' on the trays Vare adapted to be engaged with pivotal supports which are carried by nutsmounted for vertical reciprocation on respec- .tive screw shaftsextending verticallyintermediate of the width of the trays, and having V'threads of 'such rapid pitchv that when the shafts are free to turn, the mere weight of the trays suffices to turn them Vand 'permit the trays to descend, by gravity, from the top to the bottom of said shafts. e Such shafts are suitably journaled at their upper and lower ends, and, to lower the trays evenly, are coupled for simultaneous rotation; conveniently Y by y sprocket chains engaging sprocket gear Wheels respectively rigidly connected lwith said shafts. Thespeed of rotation of said shafts, and consequent time -re-fl quired for the progression of each tray from the position of charge to the position'of discharge vis determined vby an escapement( `As hereinafter described; such an escapement may be conveniently operatively connected with a gear wheel on .one of said shafts and be of the clock pendulum type shown Ain Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,722,214 granted to me July 23,1929.y However, any other suitable escapement may be employed.

My invention includes the various novel features y, of construction and larrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I isa fragmentary vertical sectional view of anincubator structure `conveniently embodyingmy improve ments.

Fig. II is a front velevation ofthestructure Y shown in Fig. I.

Fig.III is a fragmentary vertical sie'ctionalm-S Vthe pivotal supports for the egg trays.

Fig. IVV is a fragmentary end elevation ofv a tray showing the thereon. Y

Fig.V is an elevation of the pivotal support complementary to'that shown in Fig'. IV

and including a Split Hut adapted ,forl enu gagement with a v screw shaft.

Fig. VI is a plan'view of the structureMtv shown in Fig. V.

Fig.' VII is an elevation of the right hand side of he structure shown iny Fig.' V.

y, In said figures; the Avertical'fscrewshaftsk I andv 2 having and 4 are journaled in respective stepV bearings 5 and 6, preferably of the roller or ball bearing type, and are journaled at their upper ends 1n the respective bearings 8 and 9 rapid pitch screw' Jthreads 3 pivotal supportin'g'iplate $5 I also of the roller or ball bearing type. Said screw shafts 1 and 2 have respective sprocket gears 10 and 11 rigidly secured thereon at their upper ends and connected by the sprocket chain 12 so that said shafts 1 and 2 are coupled for simultaneous ,turning movement.

Either or both of said shafts 1 and 2 may also have sprocket wheels 14 and 15 rigidly secured thereon for connection `by chains 16 with other pairs of similar shafts so that all of such shafts may be coupled for simu-ltaneous rotation.

Each of said screw shafts is adapted to en- ;gage a series 4of split nuts 18. As shown in .V, VI, and VII, each of said nuts `comprises a semicylindrical member 19 having hinge lugs 2O connected by a pintle 21 with the hinge lug 22 on the semicylindrical member l23 which is complementary to said member 19. Said nut members 19 and 23 v.have .screw threads 24 which when the nut Visheld together as in Fig. VI, are continurous and fitted to engage Iand cooperate with screw threads 3 and=4 on said screw shafts l and 2. Said `nut members 19 and 23 have kee er lugs 25 and 26 adapted to be held to- -get er -by the shackle 27 which .has pivot lugs 28 engaged in the Abearing 29, upon which said shackle may be swung to and from thev Vpivot stud .32 and astop lug 33 projecting at right angles to the airis of the screw bore therein. f

'l v.Said pivot studs 32 upon the nuts 18 are fitted vfor detachable engagement in the respective sockets 35 ,of pivot plates 3G which .are 4rigidly connected,convenientlyby screws 37, with the opposite. ends of the rectangular tray frames 38. Each of said pivot plates 36 Vhas inverted V-shaped .flanges 39 to alter- 'nate'ly contact with opposite sides of the respective stop lugs y33 .on said nuts 18; the included angle between said flanges 39 being say eighty degrees, so yas to permit the trays to be inclined at an angle of forty ,degrees to the horizontahin either direction, as indicated Vin dash lines in F ig. IV. Such construction and arrangement kof the pivot' means respectively carried by ,the screw i-shafts and by the trays,'permit the latter Vto (be instantaneously connected and disconnected with respect utosaid screw shafts, by

rmerely lifting the .trays with :their pivot plates 36 over said studs 32 and, when the trays and plates are placed in such operative relation as in Fig. I, they may be lowered from the top to the bottom of said screw shafts 1 and 2 at any rate determined by the rate of of rotation of said shafts occasioned by the weight of the trays and controlled by any suitable means.

As indicated in Fig. I, I find it convenient to operatively connect with the gear wheel 15 .an lescapenfientincluding the gear wheel 42. rIhe train of reducing gears connected with said gear 42 is conveniently inclosed in the `stationary casing 43 and the member of said trainl most remote from said gear 42 is operatively connected with the oscillatory Ypendulum 45; so that said escapement oper- `ates like an ordinary clock mechanism actuated by a pendent weight; the weight in the present instance being that of `the ,trays and their contents.

As indicated in Fig. I, said shaft bearings 5 and 6 may be rigidly connected with the top wall 46 of a hatching compartment 47 having the floor 48, and the opposite side walls 49 of which have oppositely projecting bracket ledges 50 4adapted to support individual trays 38, while the chicks are escaping from their shells. The upper bearings 8 and 9 for-said screw shafts may be rigidly connected with the roof or ceiling 51 ofthe incubator housing 52, which may be of any suitable form or dimensions and provided with means to warm, circulate, and meisten the Aair in the egg chamber 53 inclosed by said housing.

Thearrangement described is such that as each of said tra-ys 38 reaches its lowermost position in connection with said screw shafts 1 and 2, it may be lifted ofl1 its pivotal supports 32, covered, and pushed into .the hatch-ing compartment 47. As the oppositenuts 18 are thus relieved of the trays in succession, they may be released from the screw shaftsat the bottom thereof and replaced at the top ythereof, and trays containing fresh eggs be replaced in connection therewith so that the operation is practically continuous. altho the downward movement of the trays may be checked at any time' by stopping the oscillation of the penduluml 45.

.ed from a chain lwheel 58 and adapted to engage each ofthe trays, conveniently by hook studs 60 rigidly connectedwith the respective trays, .as indicatedY in Fig. II. 'Said chain may he held in either position of adjustment Vby engagement witha hook stud 61, conveniently rigidly connected with saidtop wall 46 of the hatching compartment v47, as indicated in Fig. II. However, any suitable means for tilting and detaining said trays in tilted position may be employed.

Altho said nuts 18 may be free to turn upon the shaft when released from engagement with the pivot plates 36 of the trays 38;

' said plates suiice to hold said nuts with their pivot studs 32 in axial alinement when said plates 36 are engaged therewith. I-Iowever, said nut members 19 and 23 have respective lugs 64 and 65 adapted to loosely embrace between them a guide rod or wire 66 to hold said nuts with their pivot studs 32 in axial alinement when the trays are removed therefrom; so as to facilitate the removal and replacement of the trays with respect to the nuts as described.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement, or method of operation herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

1. In an incubator; the combination with an egg tray; of means arranged to support said tray and permit it to be progressed by its own weight, including a shaft having a rapid pitch screw thread, and a nut adapted to traverse said shaft and having means adapted for detachable engagement with said 2. A structure as in claim 1; including two such screw shaftsand means operatively connecting themv for simultaneous rotation;

whereby nuts upon the respective shafts are' progressed at the same rate to hold the tray even.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1; including adinstable retarding means limiting the rate of rotation of said shaft and the consequent rate of progression of the tray. Y

4. Apparatus as iii claim 1; including adjustable retarding means limiting the rate of rotation of said shaft and the consequent rate of progression of the tra-y, including any oscillatory pendulum escapement. t

5. Apparatu-s as in claim 1; including pivotal connecting means between said tray and nut, and means limiting the turning movement of said tray with reference to said nut; whereby spilling movement of said tray is prevented.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1; including means adjustable to tilt said tray and turn the eggs, independentlyof the progression of said tray by said screw. i

7. Apparatus as in claim 1; including pivotal connecting means between said tray andnut, and means limiting the turning movement of said tray with reference to said nut; whereby spilling movement of said tray,l is

prevented; and means adjustable to tilt said otal connecting means between said tray and nut, and means adjustable to Atilt said tray to turn the eggs, independently of the proygression of said tray by said screw, and including an endless' nected with said tray, and a wheel supporting said chain independently of said 'tray7 and 9. lApparatus as in claim 1'; including pivotal connecting means between said tray` and nut, and means, local to saidpivotal connecting means and adaptedtolimit the turning movement of said'tray with referenceto said nut; whereby spilling movement of said l tray is prevented; and means adjustable'to tilt said tray to turn theegg's, independently of the progression of said tray by said screw.

10. Apparatus asin claim 1; including piv- `otalconnecting means between said tray l and nut,` and means localrto saidv pivotal i connecting means and adapted to limit the turning movement of said tray with reference to said nut; whereby spilling movementfof said tray is prevented; and means `adjustable totilt said tray to turn the eggs,`independent vly of the progression of said trayV by "said screw, including an endless chain detachably connected with said tray, and a wheel supporting said chain. y

11. in an incubator; the combination with an egg tray; of means arranged to support said tray and permit it to be progressed by its own weight, including a shaft having a rapid pitch screw threadand a vnut adaptedy to traverse saidshaft and having means adapt-l ed for detachable engagement with said tray; said nut being split and thus adapted for detachable connection with said shaft, and

lsaid tray and permit it to be progressed by its oWn weight, including a shaft having a rapid pitch screw-thread, and a nut ladapted to trasverse said shaft and having means adapted for detachable engagement with said tray; said nut being split and thus adapted for detachable. connection with` said shaft,

and means carriedv by said nut, adjustable to alternately hold said nut in ycooperative relation with said shaft and release said nut from i said shaft, including hingedly connected parts. Y

13. In an incubator; the combination with ay plurality of eggtrays; of means arranged chain detachably conmeans carriedby said nut, adjustable to alternatelyhold said 'nut in cooperative relation with said shaft and release said nut from to support said trays and permit them to be progressed by their own weight, including a plurality of parallel shafts each having a rapid pitch screw thread, nuts adapted to Itraverse said. shafts and having means adapted for detachable engagement With said .trays ;-and means operatively connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotary movement.

14. In an incubator; the combination With -a plurality of egg trays; of means arranged Yto support said trays and permit them to be progressed bv their own Weight, including a yplurality ofn parallel shafts each.V having a rapid pitch screw thread, nuts adapted to traverse said shafts and having means adapt- Ved for detachable engagement with said trays; and means operatively connecting said .shafts for simultaneous rotary movement, in-

cluding Wheels on the respective shafts and a belt connecting said Wheels.

15. An incubator structure as in claim 13; including retarding means operative to controlithe rate of progression of sai-d trays.

- 16. An incubator structure as in claim 13; including retarding means operative to control the rate of progression of said trays; and means controlling said retarding means, including a pendulum; whereby the rate of progression of said trays may be adjustably predetermined. I

17. Inan incubator; the combination with `a plurality of egg trays; of means arranged to support said trays and permit them to be progressed by their own Weight, including a .plurality of parallel shafts each having a rap-v id pitch screw thread,nuts adaptedtotraverse said shafts and having means adapted for dey tachable engagement With said trays; and means operatively connecting said shafts tor simultaneous rotary movement7 including Wheels on the respective shafts and means connecting said Wheels.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunt signed myname at Philadelphia; Pennsyl- Vvania; this twenty-second day of August,

WILLIAM FINNEY HILLPOT. f 

